Shareef Shaheen-President
Jack Englhart-Vice President Engineering
Alex Ingram-Vice President Financial and Sales
Chuckie Burnett- Vice President Products
About US
TSD Solar Electric Company is a solar energy systems integrator dedicated to facilitating the implementation of solar technologies for commercial, industrial, governmental and residential entities seeking the benefits of renewable energy production. With in-house resources and an extensive network of industry partners, we offer a wide array of services from small scale residential and niche application projects to large scale commercial projects. Please browse our site to learn more about the solar products and services we offer.
Products and Services
Commercial Solar Power Systems
Residential Solar Power Systems
Product Sales
Site Analysis
Feasibility Studies
System Design
Solar Engineering
Structural Engineering
Project Management
Off Grid Solar Power Systems
Solar Water Pumping
System Commissioning
System Diagnosis
Maintenance & Repair
Consultation Services
Solar RFP Writing
Solar System Financing
Power Purchase Agreements
Commercial Solar Power Systems
Our sales of commercial solar power systems are growing rapidly in US markets and around the world. The popularity is growing among business owners and corporate boards as a viable and attractive alternative energy source and its financial benefits. The US government provides our customers with several incentives including tax credits and accelerated depreciation.
If your company is interested in assessing the viability of a solar power system at your facility, we can provide a custom financial analysis. After conducting a site analysis and obtaining information from your electrical bill, we can provide preliminary financials that will show the expected performance of a solar power system over the next 30 years. Feel free to contact us by phone or use our email to present questions or introduce us to your project.
Residential Solar Systems, Solar Panels for Homes
As energy costs continue to rise, and as the awareness of global climate change continues to grow, homeowners are flocking to solar as a smart alternative to purchasing power from the utility.
You may not be able to do much about the cost of gas at the pump, but you can mitigate your home electrical costs through investment in a solar electric system while also contributing to society's effort to stem global warming.
If you are interested in purchasing a solar electric system for your home, please call us to provide us with some preliminary information about your project. If we cannot serve your area, we will put you in touch with one of our pre-screened solar integration partners.
Off The Grid Solar Power Systems
For applications where utility lines are not available, not desired, or just too expensive to bring in, TSD Solar Electric Company can design, sell, and install a system to suit your needs. Off-grid systems present a wide array of possibilities depending on your site, your needs, and your budget. Off-grid solar electric system design is one of TSD Solar Electric Company's specialties. We can design off-grid solar systems for remote cabins, telecommunications applications, remote business applications, and fully automated high end residential sites.
How Off Grid Solar Systems Work
Off-grid solar systems use solar modules to produce Direct Current (DC: Battary like) electricity which is then stored in a battery bank. An inverter then converts the DC power stored in the batteries to Alternate Current (AC: Normal house electricity) power - the kind of power found in an on-the-grid home. Typically, off-grid systems will include a backup engine generator to charge the batteries if they get too low. Such a system will typically be set up so that the generator starts automatically in a low battery condition.
How Solar Energy Works
The Earth receives a small portion of incoming solar radiation at the upper atmosphere. Approximately 30% is reflected back to space while the rest is absorbed by clouds, oceans and land masses.
The spectrum of solar light at the Earth's surface is mostly spread across the visible and near-infrared ranges with a small part in the near-ultraviolet. Earth's land surface, oceans and atmosphere absorb solar radiation, and this raises their temperature. Warm air containing evaporated water from the oceans rises, causing atmospheric circulation or convection. When the air reaches a high altitude, where the temperature is low, water vapor condenses into clouds, which rain onto the earth's surface, completing the water cycle. The latent heat of water condensation amplifies convection, producing atmospheric phenomena such as wind, cyclones and anti-cyclones. Sunlight absorbed by the oceans and land masses keeps the surface at an average temperature of 14 °C.By photosynthesis green plants convert solar energy into chemical energy, which produces food, wood and the biomass from which fossil fuels are derived.
Sunlight can be converted into electricity using photovoltaics (PV), concentrating solar power (CSP), and various experimental technologies. A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell (PV), is a device that converts light into direct current using the photoelectric effect. Simply, the Photons in sunlight hit the solar panel and are absorbed by semiconducting materials, such as silicon. Electrons (negatively charged) are knocked loose from their atoms, allowing them to flow through the material to produce electricity. Due to the special composition of solar cells, the electrons are only allowed to move in a single direction. The complementary positive charges that are also created (like bubbles) are called holes and flow in the direction opposite of the electrons in a silicon solar panel. An array of solar cells converts solar energy into a usable amount of direct current (DC) electricity.
The photo cells are arranged in larger array which collects the sun light and converts it into electricity.
The history of lighting is dominated by the use of natural light. Ancient Greeks and Romans saw great benefit in what we now refer to as passive solar design—the use of architecture to make use of the sun’s capacity to light and heat indoor spaces. The Greek philosopher Socrates wrote, “In houses that look toward the south, the sun penetrates the portico in winter.” Romans advanced the art by covering south facing building openings with glass or mica to hold in the heat of the winter sun. Through calculated use of the sun’s energy, Greeks and Romans offset the need to burn wood that was often in short supply.
Auguste Mouchout, inventor of the first active solar motor, questioned the widespread belief that the fossil fuels powering the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century would never run out. “Eventually industry will no longer find in Europe the resources to satisfy its prodigious expansion. Coal will undoubtedly be used up. What will industry do then?” Mouchout asked prophetically.
In 1861, Mouchout developed a steam engine powered entirely by the sun. But its high costs coupled with the falling price of English coal doomed his invention to become a footnote in energy history.
In 1953, Bell Laboratories (now AT&T labs) scientists Gerald Pearson, Daryl Chapin and Calvin Fuller developed the first silicon solar cell capable of generating a measurable electric current. The New York Times reported the discovery as “the beginning of a new era, leading eventually to the realization of harnessing the almost limitless energy of the sun for the uses of civilization.”
In 1956, solar photovoltaic (PV) cells were far from economically practical. Electricity from solar cells ran about $300 per watt. (For comparison, current market rates for a watt of solar PV hover around $5.) The “Space Race” of the 1950s and 60s gave modest opportunity for progress in solar, as satellites and crafts used solar paneling for electricity.
It was not until October 17, 1973 that solar leapt to prominence in energy research. The Oil Embargo demonstrated the degree to which the Western economy depended upon a cheap and reliable flow of oil. As oil prices nearly doubled over night, leaders became desperate to find a means of reducing this dependence. In addition to increasing automobile fuel economy standards and diversifying energy sources, the U.S. government invested heavily in the solar electric cell that Bell Laboratories had produced with such promise in 1953.
Present Solar Power
NASA successfully conducts two tests of a solar-powered, remote-controlled aircraft called Pathfinder Plus. In the first test in July, researchers demonstrated the aircraft’s use as a high-altitude platform for tele-communications technologies. Then, in September, a test demonstrated its use as an aerial imaging system for coffee growers.
The Pathfinder Plus is a lightweight, solar-powered, remotely piloted flying wing aircraft that is demonstrating the technology of applying solar power for long-duration, high-altitude flight. This solar-powered aircraft could stay airborne for weeks or months on scientific sampling and imaging missions. Solar arrays covering most of the upper wing surface provide power for the aircraft’s electric motors, avionics, communications and other electronic systems. It also has a backup battery system that can provide power for between two and five hours to allow limited-duration flight after dark.
Future Solar Power
Soon there will giant farms of photovoltaic panels baking in the sunlight of the southwest deserts, the resulting energy powering Phoenix, Las Vegas, and the rest of the region. If this vision of the future of solar power in the United States sounds right to you, it would probably come as a surprise to learn that some of the best potential customers for the solar power industry are homeowners and small businesses in the Northeast who will install small-scale systems on their property. In striking contrast to all other power generation technologies, solar electricity equipment has very few economies of scale. Coal and gas-fired power plants, hydroelectric dams, nuclear reactors, solar thermal concentrators (with their acres of sun-tracking reflective troughs) and wind turbines (whose size dictate that they be situated in remote areas) are only practical for large commercial power generators to own and operate.
Solar Power: Advantages and Disadvantages
There are many advantages of solar energy. Just consider the advantages of solar energy over that of oil:
· Solar energy is a renewable resource. We can count on the sun being there ready to give us more energy and light. As long as we have the sun, we can have solar energy. In contrast, Oil, is not renewable resource. Once it is gone, it is gone.
· Solar cells are totally silent. They can extract energy from the sun without making a peep. Now imagine the noise that the giant machines used to drill for and pump oil make!
· Solar energy is non-polluting. Of all advantages of solar energy over that of oil, this is, perhaps, the most important. The burning of oil releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases and carcinogens into the air.
· Solar cells require very little maintenance (they have no moving parts that will need to be fixed), and they last a long time.
· Solar panels or solar lights can save money in the long run. After all, you do not have to pay for energy from the sun. On the other hand, all of us are aware of the rising cost of oil.
· Solar powered lights and other solar powered products are also very easy to install.
However, the disadvantages of solar energy are:
· Solar cells/panels, etc. can be very expensive and requires a large scale deployment to be effective.
· Solar power cannot be created at night, during storms, or in cloudy weather.
. Solar farms may need long transmission lines to carry the energy from solar farms to population centers.
TSD Officers
Shareef Shaheen-PresidentJack Englhart-Vice President Engineering
Alex Ingram-Vice President Financial and Sales
Chuckie Burnett- Vice President Products
About US
TSD Solar Electric Company is a solar energy systems integrator dedicated to facilitating the implementation of solar technologies for commercial, industrial, governmental and residential entities seeking the benefits of renewable energy production. With in-house resources and an extensive network of industry partners, we offer a wide array of services from small scale residential and niche application projects to large scale commercial projects. Please browse our site to learn more about the solar products and services we offer.
Products and Services
Commercial Solar Power Systems
Our sales of commercial solar power systems are growing rapidly in US markets and around the world. The popularity is growing among business owners and corporate boardsIf your company is interested in assessing the viability of a solar power system at your facility, we can provide a custom financial analysis. After conducting a site analysis and obtaining information from your electrical bill, we can provide preliminary financials that will show the expected performance of a solar power system over the next 30 years. Feel free to contact us by phone or use our email to present questions or introduce us to your project.
Residential Solar Systems, Solar Panels for Homes
You may not be able to do much about the cost of gas at the pump, but you can mitigate your home electrical costs through investment in a solar electric system while also contributing to society's effort to stem global warming.
If you are interested in purchasing a solar electric system for your home, please call us to provide us with some preliminary information about your project. If we cannot serve your area, we will put you in touch with one of our pre-screened solar integration partners.
Off The Grid Solar Power Systems
For applications where utility lines are not available, not desired, or just too expensive to bring in, TSD Solar Electric Company can design, sell, and install a system to suit your needs. Off-grid systems present a wide array of possibilities depending on your site, your needs, and your budget. Off-grid solar electric system design is one of TSD Solar Electric Company's specialties. We can design off-grid solar systems for remote cabins, telecommunications applications, remote business applications, and fully automated high end residential sites.How Off Grid Solar Systems Work
Off-grid solar systems use solar modules to produce Direct Current (DC: Battary like) electricity which is then stored in a battery bank. An inverter then converts the DC power stored in the batteries to Alternate Current (AC: Normal house electricity) power - the kind of power found in an on-the-grid home. Typically, off-grid systems will include a backup engine generator to charge the batteries if they get too low. Such a system will typically be set up so that the generator starts automatically in a low battery condition.How Solar Energy Works
The Earth receives a small portion of incoming solar radiation at the upper atmosphere. Approximately 30% is reflected back to space while the rest is absorbed by clouds, oceans and land masses.The spectrum of solar light at the Earth's surface is mostly spread across the visible and near-infrared ranges with a small part in the near-ultraviolet.
Earth's land surface, oceans and atmosphere absorb solar radiation, and this raises their temperature. Warm air containing evaporated water from the oceans rises, causing atmospheric circulation or convection. When the air reaches a high altitude, where the temperature is low, water vapor condenses into clouds, which rain onto the earth's surface, completing the water cycle. The latent heat of water condensation amplifies convection, producing atmospheric phenomena such as wind, cyclones and anti-cyclones. Sunlight absorbed by the oceans and land masses keeps the surface at an average temperature of 14 °C. By photosynthesis green plants convert solar energy into chemical energy, which produces food, wood and the biomass from which fossil fuels are derived.
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environment/energy-environment/solar-power.html
Electrical generation
Sunlight can be converted into electricity using photovoltaics (PV), concentrating solar power (CSP), and various experimental technologies. A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell (PV), is a device that converts light into direct current using the photoelectric effect.The photo cells are arranged in larger array which collects the sun light and converts it into electricity.
The array is manufactured as shown the following video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYeynLy6pj8
The History of Solar Power
The history of lighting is dominated by the use of natural light. Ancient Greeks and Romans saw great benefit in what we now refer to as passive solar design—the use of architecture to make use of the sun’s capacity to light and heat indoor spaces. The Greek philosopher Socrates wrote, “In houses that look toward the south, the sun penetrates the portico in winter.” Romans advanced the art by covering south facing building openings with glass or mica to hold in the heat of the winter sun. Through calculated use of the sun’s energy, Greeks and Romans offset the need to burn wood that was often in short supply.Auguste Mouchout, inventor of the first active solar motor, questioned the widespread belief that the fossil fuels powering the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century would never run out. “Eventually industry will no longer find in Europe the resources to satisfy its prodigious expansion. Coal will undoubtedly be used up. What will industry do then?” Mouchout asked prophetically.
In 1861, Mouchout developed a steam engine powered entirely by the sun. But its high costs coupled with the falling price of English coal doomed his invention to become a footnote in energy history.
In 1953, Bell Laboratories (now AT&T labs) scientists Gerald Pearson, Daryl Chapin and Calvin Fuller developed the first silicon solar cell capable of generating a measurable electric current. The New York Times reported the discovery as “the beginning of a new era, leading eventually to the realization of harnessing the almost limitless energy of the sun for the uses of civilization.”
In 1956, solar photovoltaic (PV) cells were far from economically practical. Electricity from solar cells ran about $300 per watt. (For comparison, current market rates for a watt of solar PV hover around $5.) The “Space Race” of the 1950s and 60s gave modest opportunity for progress in solar, as satellites and crafts used solar paneling for electricity.
It was not until October 17, 1973 that solar leapt to prominence in energy research. The Oil Embargo demonstrated the degree to which the Western economy depended upon a cheap and reliable flow of oil. As oil prices nearly doubled over night, leaders became desperate to find a means of reducing this dependence. In addition to increasing automobile fuel economy standards and diversifying energy sources, the U.S. government invested heavily in the solar electric cell that Bell Laboratories had produced with such promise in 1953.
Present Solar Power
NASA successfully conducts two tests of a solar-powered, remote-controlled aircraft called Pathfinder Plus. In the first test in July, researchers demonstrated the aircraft’s use as a high-altitude platform for tele-communications technologies. Then, in September, a test demonstrated its use as an aerial imaging system for coffee growers.The Pathfinder Plus is a lightweight, solar-powered, remotely piloted flying wing aircraft that is demonstrating the technology of applying solar power for long-duration, high-altitude flight. This solar-powered aircraft could stay airborne for weeks or months on scientific sampling and imaging missions. Solar arrays covering most of the upper wing surface provide power for the aircraft’s electric motors, avionics, communications and other electronic systems. It also has a backup battery system that can provide power for between two and five hours to allow limited-duration flight after dark.
Future Solar Power
Soon there will giant farms of photovoltaic panels baking in the sunlight of the southwest deserts, the resulting energy powering Phoenix, Las Vegas, and the rest of the region. If this vision of the future of solar power in the United States sounds right to you, it would probably come as a surprise to learn that some of the best potential customers for the solar power industry are homeowners and small businesses in the Northeast who will install small-scale systems on their property. In striking contrast to all other power generation technologies, solar electricity equipment has very few economies of scale. Coal and gas-fired power plants, hydroelectric dams, nuclear reactors, solar thermal concentrators (with their acres of sun-tracking reflective troughs) and wind turbines (whose size dictate that they be situated in remote areas) are only practical for large commercial power generators to own and operate.
Solar Power: Advantages and Disadvantages
There are many advantages of solar energy. Just consider the advantages of solar energy over that of oil:· Solar energy is a renewable resource. We can count on the sun being there ready to give us more energy and light. As long as we have the sun, we can have solar energy. In contrast, Oil, is not renewable resource. Once it is gone, it is gone.
· Solar cells are totally silent. They can extract energy from the sun without making a peep. Now imagine the noise that the giant machines used to drill for and pump oil make!
· Solar energy is non-polluting. Of all advantages of solar energy over that of oil, this is, perhaps, the most important. The burning of oil releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases and carcinogens into the air.
· Solar cells require very little maintenance (they have no moving parts that will need to be fixed), and they last a long time.
· Solar panels or solar lights can save money in the long run. After all, you do not have to pay for energy from the sun. On the other hand, all of us are aware of the rising cost of oil.
· Solar powered lights and other solar powered products are also very easy to install.
However, the disadvantages of solar energy are:
· Solar cells/panels, etc. can be very expensive and requires a large scale deployment to be effective.
· Solar power cannot be created at night, during storms, or in cloudy weather.
. Solar farms may need long transmission lines to carry the energy from solar farms to population centers.